Seagull 1963
Lately I've been thinking about buying a Seagull 1963 Chronograph. I didn't think consumption would ever be a challenge; unfortunately, I was wrong. There are countless offers, variants and stores. So I need your help! Where should I buy? I would like to avoid AliExpress and the like. Similarly, I would ask for NATO strap recommendations for the Seagull. Thank you very much!
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Despite your wish to avoid AliExpress I am going to recommend this Chronograph from Sugess. It is a stunning watch all around and is regulated to within an inch of its life.
Hello @ComradeZxq . Most AliExpress 1963 are actually not made by Sea-gull though they do have official Sea-gull movements. They are kind of "official" copies.
There are two clues to distinguish real from copy:
1) authentic Sea-gull actually have "Sea-gull" (with a hyphen) and not "Seagull" written on the case back.
2) The phrase 天津手 表厂 (Tianjin watch factory) is written on the lower part of the dial and just underneath 中国 (China). Copies generally only have 中国 .
If you want an official Sea-gull 1963 the best option is www.seagullwatches.com
The website actually still has 3 of their limited edition (re-edition) though at $990. I have number 2176 and love it.
They also have non-limited edition 1963s.
As for the Nato strap I am actually dressing up this beautifull chronometer so I rather opted for leather straps, can't help you with that one, sorry 🙂
Hello @ComradeZxq . Most AliExpress 1963 are actually not made by Sea-gull though they do have official Sea-gull movements. They are kind of "official" copies.
There are two clues to distinguish real from copy:
1) authentic Sea-gull actually have "Sea-gull" (with a hyphen) and not "Seagull" written on the case back.
2) The phrase 天津手 表厂 (Tianjin watch factory) is written on the lower part of the dial and just underneath 中国 (China). Copies generally only have 中国 .
If you want an official Sea-gull 1963 the best option is www.seagullwatches.com
The website actually still has 3 of their limited edition (re-edition) though at $990. I have number 2176 and love it.
They also have non-limited edition 1963s.
As for the Nato strap I am actually dressing up this beautifull chronometer so I rather opted for leather straps, can't help you with that one, sorry 🙂
The question we have to ask ourselves: is it worth the extra cost?
Well, I have a very good reason: my wife is from Tianjin and I worked there several years. Great memories.
But to your point, maybe an "official' copy can "scratch your itch". In any case, hope you enjoy it!
When it comes to 1963 style chronos, I have some experience.
My own preference is for HKED given the original 1963/304 chronographs usually had the now-called "star trek" logo and not a red star. There were actually a few differing 304 chronos, and there may have been an unfilled star original. That's not certain -- but no originals had a red star.
HKED's customer support is very well regarded.
Beyond that, my advice is to buy from any seller with a great reputation for customer support. The ST19 is, like any mechanical chrono, a complicated bit of kit--so it helps to know you'll be treated well if there's problem.
And all this noted: you pay a premium to get the "official"models from Tianjin Sea-Gull, but only Tianjin Sea-Gull can claim a direct lineage to the original 304 chronographs. (Unless it's a very rare Captain watch from Fenglei...but that's a whole other story).
This WUS thread is a goldmine of info on sellers: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/where-to-purchase-genuine-sea-gull-watches.5435623/page-4#post-57430148
And Antonio has a point. I have a huge soft spot for Tianjin myself. It's a beautiful city.
Also, for straps, I've always been happy with CNSwatchbands, and if you're looking for 18mm NATOs, https://www.regimentalshop.com/collections/watchstraps-g10-nato has many straps that are hard to find anywhere else. Most 38mm 63's have 18mm lugs.